The current Premier League campaign is proving exceptionally unpredictable. Last weekend alone, we saw out-of-form, relegation-threatened Leeds United travel to Liverpool and beat Jurgen Klopp’s men, while Chelsea were demolished 4-1 by Graham Potter’s former side, Brighton & Hove Albion. And, with just two weeks until the unprecedented World Cup break starts, we can expect even more shocks. With that in mind, five members of Last Word on Football staff have provided our Premier League Predictions for matchweek 15, with a couple of big matches coming up.
Premier League Predictions Matchweek 15
Matchweek 15 threads 🧵🤩 pic.twitter.com/eMWIurMh8S
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Nottingham Forest vs Brentford
Jamie Rooke: 0-2
Dan Hepburn: 0-1
Joe Blackburn: 1-2
Jordan Hackett: 1-2
Joseph Howes: 1-1
Nottingham Forest are yet to see major benefits to their huge summer transfer spend but their form is certainly looking up after a fairly disastrous start to the season. Meanwhile, Brentford’s campaign is heading in somewhat the opposite direction, having been on the receiving end of a couple of demolition jobs recently. This should end up being a pretty tight affair: 1-1.
Joseph Howes
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Jamie Rooke: 0-1
Dan Hepburn: 2-1
Joe Blackburn: 0-3
Jordan Hackett: 0-2
Joseph Howes: 0-2
After thrashing Chelsea last weekend, Brighton will be on a real high, and Roberto De Zerbi will be looking to build on his first win with the South Coast side. Wolves have been disappointing since the start of the campaign, and I don’t see that changing this weekend. 2-0 Brighton.
Joseph Howes
Manchester City vs Fulham
Jamie Rooke: 4-1
Dan Hepburn: 4-0
Joe Blackburn: 5-0
Jordan Hackett: 3-1
Joseph Howes: 3-0
Fulham have clearly come into the league this year as a different beast. They’ve learnt from previous mistakes and are punching above their weight. Going to the Etihad and getting a result would be further showings of that but the likelihood is they’ll walk away empty-handed.
Jamie Rooke
Leeds United vs Bournemouth
Jamie Rooke: 3-0
Dan Hepburn: 1-2
Joe Blackburn: 3-0
Jordan Hackett: 1-1
Joseph Howes: 1-2
Leeds United took a victory at Anfield last week and will look to continue that trend this week against a Bournemouth side with only four points from the last available 15. Luis Sinisterra misses out for the Whites as Lewis Cook will look to make an impact at his old stomping ground. Although the Whites have struggled to break down low blocks of late, they have the quality to beat the Cherries. 3-0 to Leeds United.
Joe Blackburn
Everton vs Leicester City
Jamie Rooke: 1-1
Dan Hepburn: 0-0
Joe Blackburn: 1-0
Jordan Hackett: 2-0
Joseph Howes: 2-1
Both teams failed to bag against their opponents last weekend and will be looking to find the back of the net in their next fixture. Leicester still find themselves in relegation danger. Brendan Rodgers, however, should not be disheartened by falling to reigning champions Manchester City. The Toffees stumbled at the start but have now picked up a bit of form following successive defeats to Manchester United, Tottenham and Newcastle. It has been a tale of two ends of the pitch as they have struggled to convert but have been defensively sound with big thanks going to the veteran partnership of Coady and Tarkowski. A share of the spoils would be a fair a result.
Dan Hepburn
Chelsea vs Arsenal
Jamie Rooke: 2-2
Dan Hepburn: 2-1
Joe Blackburn: 1-2
Jordan Hackett: 1-1
Joseph Howes: 1-2
Chelsea suffered their first loss of the Potter era against his old side Brighton last weekend, and with an almost perfect record otherwise the manager will look to return to winning ways. Arsenal have only lost two matches all season, sitting pretty at the top of the table thanks to Mikel Arteta’s organised chaos and attacking football. The Blues have enough to mostly keep Arsenal out, but injuries could be their downfall at Stamford Bridge. 2-1 to the Gunners.
Joe Blackburn
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
Jamie Rooke: 1-2
Dan Hepburn: 0-3
Joe Blackburn: 0-1
Jordan Hackett: 0-1
Joseph Howes: 0-2
Unai Emery’s first game in charge comes against an in-form Manchester United side. Erik ten Hag’s men have recorded five 1-0 wins this season – their most common scoreline. Villa’s form has been all over the place and they will hope for an instant turn in fortunes under former Arsenal boss, Emery, however, it could be wise to side with yet another 1-0 win for the Red Devils, who like to do it the hard way under their Dutch coach.
Jordan Hackett
Southampton vs Newcastle United
Jamie Rooke: 0-2
Dan Hepburn: 1-2
Joe Blackburn: 0-2
Jordan Hackett: 1-3
Joseph Howes: 0-3
It’s difficult not to be blown away by the form of Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United. They have been thrashing the teams below them and holding their own against those above and around them. The Magpies can brush aside Ralph Hasenhuttl’s inconsistent Southampton side.
Jordan Hackett
West Ham United vs Crystal Palace
Jamie Rooke: 2-1
Dan Hepburn: 3-1
Joe Blackburn: 1-1
Jordan Hackett: 1-0
Joseph Howes: 2-1
Chelsea versus Arsenal isn’t the only London derby this weekend as Crystal Palace make the short trip to the London Stadium. West Ham have European football on their mind too and so the visitors will be better prepared for this clash. Neither has found the consistency they would have hoped for but the Eagles could well soar to victory in this one.
Jamie Rooke
Tottenham Hotspur vs Liverpool
Jamie Rooke: 0-0
Dan Hepburn: 1-2
Joe Blackburn: 1-0
Jordan Hackett: 1-1
Joseph Howes: 2-2
Reports show that Dejan Kulusevski is back in the mix at Tottenham so we may see a shift of personnel. The home team have not struggled for goals but are coming up against a side that have conceded less than them this term. Liverpool fell at the feet of Leeds United at Anfield last weekend which witnessed Virgil van Dijk’s first home defeat for the Reds. Maybe surprisingly for some, Tottenham are six places and 10 points ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s side but Liverpool possess every capability of reducing this deficit with a win against the North London outfit.
Dan Hepburn
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